US20070119488A1 - Dish washer with disc type passage control valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A dish washer is disclosed which includes a disc type passage control valve formed to have a simple disc structure, thereby being capable of smoothly supplying wash water to a washing arm. The dish washer includes an upper washing arm, a lower washing arm, a sump for receiving wash water, a washing pump for pumping the wash water, and a passage control valve including a passage opening/closing plate having a plate or disc shape and functioning to open/close a passage guiding the wash water to the upper washing arm or to the lower washing arm.

Description

• This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0096390 filed on Oct. 13, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to a dish washer for washing dishes, and more particularly, to a dish washer which includes a disc type passage control valve formed to have a simple disc structure, thereby being capable of smoothly supplying wash water to a washing arm.
• 2. Discussion of the Related Art
• Generally, dish washers are adapted to wash dishes by injecting wash water onto the dishes, and to dry and/or sterilize the washed dishes.
• Hereinafter, a conventional dish washer will be described with reference to the annexed drawings.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a conventional dish washer.FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a driver of the dish washer shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a passage structure of a filter housing shown inFIG. 2.FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of wash water during a washing operation of the driver shown inFIG. 2.FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a flow of wash water in the filter housing OFFIG. 2 during the washing operation.FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a flow of wash water in the filter housing ofFIG. 2 during a draining operation.
• The configuration of the conventional dish washer will be described in outline with reference toFIG. 1. The dish washer includes atub1. Installed in thetub1 are upper andlower washing arms4 and5, upper andlower racks6 and7, and adriver10.
• Upper andlower connecting tubes2 and3 are connected to thedriver10, in order to pump wash water. Adraining hose9 is also connected to thedriver10, in order to drain wash water. The upper andlower washing arms4 and5 are connected to the upper and lower connectingtubes2 and3, respectively. Theupper rack6 is arranged over theupper washing arm4, whereas thelower rack7 is arranged over thelower washing arm5.
• The upper andlower washing arms4 and5 are rotatably mounted above thedriver10. Each of the upper andlower washing arms4 and5 are provided with injection holes for injecting wash water. Additional injection holes are also provided at thelower washing arm5, in order to remove garbage from a filter of thedriver10, and thus, to prevent the filter from being closed by the garbage.
• Hereinafter, the driver will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 2. Thedriver10 includes asump20 for receiving wash water, aheater30 mounted in thesump20, to heat the wash water, a washing pump (includingelements41 and42) mounted to thesump20, to pump the wash water, a draining pump (includingelements51 and52) mounted to thesump20, to drain the wash water, and filtering means for guiding a part of the pumped wash water to thewashing arms4 and5, and filtering the remaining wash water.
• A space for receiving wash water, namely, awash water receiver21, is defined in thesump20. Adraining chamber22 is also defined in thesump20. Thedraining chamber22 is partitioned from thewash water receiver21. Apassage control device25 is disposed outside thewash water receiver21. Apassage control valve26 is axially coupled to thepassage control device25.
• The washing pump includes awashing motor41 mounted to the bottom of thesump20, and adapted to generate a drive force, and animpeller42 mounted to the filtering means, and adapted to pump wash water, using the drive force of thewashing motor41. A disposer45 is axially coupled to a shaft of the washing pump. The disposer45 functions to finely chop garbage as it rotates. Ascreen46 having a certain mesh size is arranged over the disposer45, in order to separate garbage having a large grain size.
• The draining pump is mounted to thedraining chamber22 of thesump20. The draining pump includes adraining motor51 and animpeller52.
• The filtering means includes apump housing60 formed with a space for receiving theimpeller42 therein, afilter housing70 arranged to cover the top of thepump housing60, and acover80 arranged to cover the top of thefilter housing70 and the top of thesump20. Thepump housing60 is mounted to the bottom of thefilter housing70. Thecover80 is mounted to the top of thefilter housing70.
• Agarbage chamber75 is defined in thefilter housing70. Thegarbage chamber75 is provided with adraining member75acommunicating with thedraining chamber22. Thedraining member75ais downwardly protruded from thegarbage chamber75 by a certain length such that thedraining member75ais inserted into thedraining chamber22. Details of thefilter housing70 will be described later.
• Afilter81 is mounted in thecover80 such that thefilter81 faces thegarbage chamber75. A plurality of recoveringholes82 are formed at thecover80 outside thefilter81. The recoveringholes82 communicate with thesump20.
• Thefilter housing70 will now be described with reference toFIG. 3.
• Thefilter housing70 includes awash water inlet72 for receiving wash water pumped by theimpeller42,main passages73aand73bconnected to thewash water inlet72, asampling passage74 connected to thewash water inlet72, and agarbage chamber75 connected to thesampling passage74. An opening/closing valve is arranged in the drainingmember75aof thegarbage chamber75, in order to discharge wash water and garbage from thegarbage chamber75 to the draining chamber22 (FIG. 2) during a draining operation.
• Thepassage control valve26 is rotatably seated in thewash water inlet72 of thefilter housing70, to selectively open and close themain passages73aand73b. Thepassage control valve26 is axially coupled to the passage control device25 (FIG. 2) installed in thesump20. An opening/closing lip26ais formed at the periphery of thepassage control valve26, to selectively open and close themain passages73aand73b.
• Hereinafter, operation of the dish washer having the above-mentioned configuration will be described.
• The dish washer washes dishes while sequentially or selectively performing pre-washing, main washing, rinsing, hot rinsing, and drying operations. A draining operation is carried out between adjacent ones of the above-mentioned operations. The main washing operation and draining operation will be described hereinafter.
• When the main washing operation is begun, thewashing motor41 rotates, thereby causing theimpeller42 to rotate. As a result, theimpeller42 pumps wash water (containing a detergent) from thesump20 to the wash water inlet72 (FIG. 3) of thepump housing60.
• In this case, in accordance with rotation of thepassage control device25, thepassage control valve26 can simultaneously open the twomain passages73aand73b, as shown inFIG. 3, or can selectively open one of themain passages73aand73b, as shown in FIGS.5 or6. Accordingly, a part of the wash water received in thewash water inlet72 is introduced into theupper washing arm4 and/or thelower washing arm5 via themain passage73aand/ormain passage73b. The remaining wash water is introduced into thegarbage chamber75 via thesampling passage74.
• In this case, thepassage control valve26 simultaneously or alternately opens themain passages73aand73b, to supply wash water to both the upper andlower washing arms4 and5. At the same time, a part of the wash water is always introduced into thesampling passage74, irrespective of which main passage is opened by thepassage control valve26.
• The wash water introduced in thesampling passage74 is directly introduced into thegarbage chamber75. This wash water then overflows the filter81 (FIG. 2) arranged over thegarbage chamber75. At this time, thefilter81 filters the wash water to remove foreign matter from the wash water. The filter wash water is returned to thesump20 via the recoveringholes82 of thecover80, together with wash water discharged from the upper andlower washing arms4 and5.
• Although the wash water seems to be partially filtered in the above procedure carried out for a short period of time, most wash water is, in practical, filtered during the main washing operation. After completion of the washing operation, the draining operation is begun.
• When the draining operation is begun, the draining pump operates. At this time, the wash water and garbage in thesump20 are introduced into the draining pump by virtue of a suction force generated by the draining pump. At the same time, the wash water and garbage in thegarbage chamber75 are also introduced into the draining pump via the drainingmember75a, as shown inFIG. 6. The wash water and garbage introduced in the draining pump are then outwardly discharged through the draining hose9 (FIG. 1).
• In the above-mentioned conventional dish washer, however, it is impossible to smoothly supply wash water to the washing arms because the passage control valve has a complex structure. In order to eliminate this problem, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the washing pump.
• Furthermore, although the passage control valve is rotated using a motor, to perform a passage control operation, this operation is carried out in a state in which wash water is filled in the passage control valve. As a result, a large load is applied to the motor. For this reason, the motor must have an increased capacity, in order to smoothly rotate the passage control valve.
• In addition, the conventional passage control valve is expensive because its structure is complex. As a result, the manufacturing costs of the dish washer are increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a dish washer with a disc type passage control valve that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a disc type passage control valve capable of smoothly supplying wash water to a washing arm, and a dish washer provided with the disc type passage control valve.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a disc type passage control valve which is efficiently rotatable, using a motor having a small capacity, and a dish washer provided with the disc type passage control valve.
• Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
• To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a dish washer comprises: an upper washing arm; a lower washing arm; a sump for receiving wash water; a washing pump for pumping the wash water; and a passage control valve including a passage opening/closing plate having a plate shape and functioning to open/close a passage guiding the wash water to the upper washing arm or to the lower washing arm.
• Preferably, the passage opening/closing plate has a disc shape.
• Preferably, the passage control valve has a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft connects the passage opening/closing plate to a motor. When the motor rotates, the passage opening/closing plate is rotated, thereby opening or closing the passage.
• The passage opening/closing plate may comprise an upper washing arm opening portion for opening a passage communicating with the upper washing arm, a lower washing arm opening portion for opening a passage communicating with the lower washing arm, and a passage closing portion for selectively closing the passage communicating with the upper washing arm or the passage communicating with the lower washing arm.
• The dish washer may further comprise a pumping chamber where an impeller of the washing pump is arranged, and a housing assembly having a passage control chamber communicating with the upper washing arm and the lower washing arm.
• Preferably, the passage opening/closing plate is arranged in a passage defined in the passage control chamber to communicate with the upper washing arm and the lower washing arm.
• In accordance with the present invention, when wash water is guided to the washing arms, the flow of the wash water can be smoothly carried out. Accordingly, the supply of the wash water can be smoothly achieved. As a result, it is possible not only to achieve an enhancement in washing performance, but also to relatively reduce the capacity of the washing pump. Also, there is no problem associated with the supply of wash water to the washing arms, even when the washing pump exhibits a degraded performance after being used for a prolonged period of time.
• Since no load caused by wash water is applied to the passage control valve when passage control is carried out by rotating the passage control valve using a control motor, in accordance with the present invention, differently from the conventional case, it is possible to extend the life span of the motor, and thus, to more efficiently use the motor.
• The passage control valve of the present invention is simple, and thus, inexpensive, as compared to the conventional passage control valve. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of the dish washer.
• It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
• FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a conventional dish washer;
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a driver of the dish washer shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a passage structure of a filter housing shown inFIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of wash water during a washing operation of the driver shown inFIG. 2;
• FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a flow of wash water in the filter housing ofFIG. 2 during the washing operation;
• FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a flow of wash water in the filter housing ofFIG. 2 during a draining operation;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a disc type passage control valve for a dish washer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a dish washer according to the present invention;
• FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of wash water during a washing operation of the dish washer ofFIG. 8; and
• FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of wash water during a draining operation of the dish washer ofFIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a disc type passage control valve for a dish washer according to the present invention.FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a dish washer to which the passage control valve ofFIG. 7 is applied.FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of wash water during a washing operation of the dish washer ofFIG. 8.FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of wash water during a draining operation of the dish washer ofFIG. 8.
• Thepassage control valve190 shown inFIG. 7 includes a passage opening/closing plate192 having a disc shape, and arotating shaft191 coupled to a shaft of acontrol motor200. The passage opening/closing plate192 has an upper washingarm opening portion192afor opening a passage communicating with an upper washing arm, a lower washingarm opening portion192bfor opening a passage communicating with a lower washing arm, and apassage closing portion192cfor selectively closing the passage communicating with the upper washing arm or the passage communicating with the lower washing arm.
• As thecontrol motor200 rotates, thepassage control valve190 is rotated to open only the passage communicating with the upper washing arm or the passage communicating with the lower washing arm. Thepassage control valve190 may also open both the passage communicating with the upper washing arm and the passage communicating with the lower washing arm.
• The dish washer shown inFIG. 8 includes the passage control valve shown inFIG. 6. In detail, the dish washer includes asump110 for receiving wash water, awashing pump120 for pumping the wash water from thesump110, and a housing assembly (includingelements130,140, and150) formed withpassages141 and142 for guiding the pumped wash water to washing arms. The dish washer also includes acover160 arranged to cover the top of thesump110, afiltering device170 extending downwardly from thecover160 such that it is arranged in thesump110, to guide wash water falling onto thecover160 to thesump110 after filtering the wash water, and a drainingpump180 communicating with thefiltering device170, and functioning to outwardly discharge garbage separated in the filtering device, along with the wash water present in thesump110.
• Preferably, a heater for heating wash water is arranged in thesump110. The illustration of the heater is omitted fromFIG. 8. It will also be appreciated that the heater may be installed on the bottom of the sump.
• Thesump110 is defined with agarbage receiving chamber111 for storing garbage separated by thefiltering device170. Thegarbage receiving chamber111 communicates with the drainingpump180. Preferably, thegarbage receiving chamber111 is arranged in the bottom of thesump110. More preferably, thegarbage receiving chamber111 is inclined toward the drainingpump180 by a predetermined angle α. In accordance with this inclination, it is possible to easily discharge garbage collected in thegarbage receiving chamber111 to the drainingpump180.
• A drainingpassage112 is also provided to communicate thegarbage receiving chamber111 and the drainingpump180. Preferably, thegarbage receiving chamber111 is communicated with a drainingchamber113 via thedraining passage112.
• The drainingchamber113 is defined in thesump110, to receive the drainingpump180. The drainingchamber113 has a space for receiving an impeller, and a space for receiving garbage.
• Thewashing pump120 includes awashing motor121 for generating a drive force, and animpeller122 axially coupled to thewashing motor121. Thewashing motor121 is of a vertical drive type in which the shaft of thewashing motor121 extends vertically. The drainingpump180 includes a draining motor (not shown), and an impeller (not shown). The drainingpump180 is of a horizontal drive type in which the shaft of the draining motor extends horizontally.
• Meanwhile, the housing assembly is provided with apumping chamber131 where theimpeller122 of thewashing pump120 is arranged, and apassage control chamber132 communicating with thepumping chamber131. Thepassage control valve190 is arranged in thepassage control chamber132. The housing assembly is also provided withmain passages141 and142 for guiding wash water from thepassage control chamber132 to respective washing arms.
• Preferably, thepumping chamber131 and thepassage control chamber132 are flush with each other, in order to increase the internal space of thesump110 while reducing the height of the housing assembly (includingelements130,140, and150). Also, themain passages141 and142 are preferably arranged over the pumpingchamber131 andpassage control chamber132, respectively, in order to reduce the width of the housing assembly.
• An example of the housing assembly will be described.
• The housing assembly includes alower housing130 defined with thepumping chamber131 and flowcontrol chamber132, and anupper housing140 coupled to thelower housing130 such that theupper housing140 covers the top of thelower housing130, and defined with themain passages141 and142. In the case ofFIG. 7, thelower housing130 andupper housing140 are separate from each other. Although not shown, the lower housing andupper housing140 may be integrated with each other.
• Preferably, the housing assembly further includes a connectinghousing150 coupled to theupper housing140 such that the connectinghousing150 covers the top of theupper housing140. The connectinghousing150 is also coupled to a connecting tube (not shown) connected to the washing arms. The connectinghousing150 has a coupling portion for coupling the connectinghousing150 to the connecting tube.
• Preferably, thecover160, which covers thesump110, is arranged to be inclined toward thefiltering device170 by a predetermined angle β (FIG. 8), in order to enable wash water and garbage falling onto thecover160 to flow easily toward thefiltering device170.
• Preferably, a plurality of filtering holes161 is formed through thecover160, in order to enable a part of the wash water falling onto thecover160 to be directly introduced into the sump after being filtered. More preferably, the filtering holes161 are arranged in a region outside the housing assembly, in order to minimize contamination of the outer surface of the housing assembly by the contaminated wash water.
• Meanwhile, thefiltering device170 has an opened lower end. The opened lower end of thefiltering device170 is coupled to thegarbage receiving chamber111. Preferably, the lower end of thefiltering device170 is vertically spaced apart from the bottom of thegarbage receiving chamber111 by a predetermined distance. To this end, astep111amay be formed at the top of the garbage receiving chamber11 such that the opened lower end of thefiltering device170 is supported by thestep111a. Thedraining passage112 is arranged beneath thestep111aof thegarbage receiving chamber111. Accordingly, garbage received in thegarbage receiving chamber111 can be discharged to the drainingchamber113 via thedraining passage112 without being obstructed by thefiltering device170.
• Thefiltering device170 includes anupper filter176 mounted to thecover160 such that theupper filter176 communicates with thecover160, and adapted to primarily filter wash water and garbage falling onto thecover160, and alower filter171 connected to theupper filter176 andgarbage receiving chamber111, and adapted to secondarily filter the wash water, and thus, to separate garbage from the wash water. Thelower filter171 has an opened lower end.
• Preferably, theupper filter176 is detachably mounted to thecover160. Also, thelower filter171 is detachably coupled to theupper filter176. Theupper filter176 performs a filtering function for separating garbage having a large grain size, whereas thelower filter171 performs a filtering function for separating garbage having a small grain size not separated by theupper filter176.
• Preferably, theupper filter176 is protruded from the upper surface of thecover160 by a predetermined height, in order to enable the user to easily grip and pull theupper filter176. Of course, it is unnecessary for theupper filter176 to be upwardly protruded from thecover160, as long as the user can easily grip and pull theupper filter176.
• As described above, therotating shaft191 of thepassage control valve190 is coupled to the shaft of thecontrol motor200. The passage opening/closing plate192, which is also included in thepassage control valve190, is arranged at an upper end of therotating shaft191, and has a disc shape. The passage opening/closing plate192 opens or closes themain passages141 and142 in accordance with rotation thereof.
• Thepassage control valve190 is structured such that it receives a pumping pressure from thewashing pump120 at the upper surface of thepassage control valve190. Accordingly, when the pumping pressure is applied, thepassage control valve190 is pressed against theupper housing140. As a result, thepassage control valve190 is stably supported by theupper housing140 without rocking laterally.
• Hereinafter, operation of the dish washer having the above-described configuration will be described.
• The dish washer washes dishes while sequentially or selectively performing pre-washing, main washing, rinsing, hot rinsing, and drying operations. A draining operation is carried out between adjacent ones of the above-mentioned operations. The main washing operation and draining operation will be described hereinafter.
• The washing operation of the dish washer will be described with reference toFIG. 9.
• When theimpeller122 rotates in accordance with operation of thewashing motor121, wash water present in thesump110 flows to thepumping chamber131 andpassage control chamber132.
• At this time, in accordance with rotation of thepassage control valve190, themain passages141 and142 are communicated with thepassage control chamber132. In this case, thepassage control valve190 may selectively open one of themain passages141 and142, or may simultaneously open both themain passages141 and142. Alternatively, thepassage control valve190 may alternately open themain passages141 and142.
• When themain passages141 and142 are opened, the wash water in thepassage control chamber132 is supplied to the washing arms via themain passages141 and142, respectively, so that the wash water can be injected from the washing arms.
• In accordance with the present invention, the pumped wash water is completely supplied to the washing arms because there is no sampling passage, as compared to the conventional case. Accordingly, the amount of wash water injected onto dishes to be washed is increased. Practically, the pumped wash water is completely used only to wash the dishes. Thus, it is possible to use a washing pump having a reduced capacity, as thewashing pump120, as compared to the conventional case. The amount of wash water used can be considerably reduced. In addition, the wash water passages are simple, as compared to the conventional case. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the flow resistance of wash water, and thus, to achieve an enhancement in pumping ability even when thewashing pump120 has the same capacity as that of the conventional case.
• The wash water injected from the washing arms falls onto thecover160 after washing the dishes. Since thecover160 is inclined toward thefiltering device170, the wash water falling onto thecover160 and garbage falling onto the cover after being separated from the dishes by the wash water are introduced into theupper filter176. The wash water is partially directly introduced into thesump110 via the filtering holes161.
• Garbage having a large grain size is separated by theupper filter176. Thelower filter171 separates the remaining garbage not separated by theupper filter176. Accordingly, only the filtered wash water is introduced into thesump110.
• In accordance with the present invention, it is unnecessary to periodically wash thefiltering device170 during the washing operation. Accordingly, even when a reduced amount of wash water is pumped, as compared to the conventional case, it is possible to obtain the same amount of injected wash water as that of the conventional case. It is also possible to reduce the amount of used wash water.
• As the above-described washing operation is continued for a predetermined time, the wash water used to wash the dishes is filtered, and re-used to wash the dishes. As the washing operation is continued, the amount of the garbage collected in thefiltering device170 is gradually increased. After completion of the washing operation, a draining operation is begun.
• The draining operation of the dish washer will be described hereinafter with reference toFIG. 10.
• When the drainingpump180 operates, the wash water present in thesump110 is introduced into thegarbage receiving chamber111 via thelower filter171 in accordance with a suction force generated by the drainingpump180. The wash water is then introduced into the drainingchamber113, together with garbage collected in thegarbage receiving chamber111. Since thegarbage receiving chamber111 is inclined toward the drainingchamber113, the introduction of garbage into the drainingchamber113 can be smoothly achieved. Thereafter, the garbage and wash water present in the drainingchamber113 is outwardly discharged via a draining hole of the drainingchamber113 and a draining hose connected to the draining hole.
• In this case, the draining path (the passage between thegarbage receiving chamber111 and the draining chamber113) is very short. Accordingly, there is little or no garbage in the draining path. In accordance with the above-described operation, the garbage collected in thegarbage receiving chamber111 during the draining operation is completely outwardly discharged.
• It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (5)

1. A dish washer comprising:

an upper washing arm;

a lower washing arm;

a sump for receiving wash water;

a washing pump for pumping the wash water; and

a passage control valve including a passage opening/closing plate having a plate shape and functioning to open/close a passage guiding the wash water to the upper washing arm or to the lower washing arm.

2. The dish washer according toclaim 1, wherein the passage opening/closing plate comprises:

an upper washing arm opening portion for opening a passage communicating with the upper washing arm;

a lower washing arm opening portion for opening a passage communicating with the lower washing arm; and

a passage closing portion for selectively closing the passage communicating with the upper washing arm or the passage communicating with the lower washing arm.

3. The dish washer according toclaim 1, further comprising:

a pumping chamber where an impeller of the washing pump is arranged; and

a housing assembly having a passage control chamber communicating with the upper washing arm and the lower washing arm,

wherein the passage opening/closing plate is arranged in a passage defined in the passage control chamber to communicate with the upper washing arm and the lower washing arm.

4. The dish washer according toclaim 1, wherein the passage opening/closing plate has a disc shape.

5. The dish washer according toclaim 4, wherein the passage control valve has a rotating shaft connecting the passage opening/closing plate to a motor.

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